James Rumley , 1812-1881

James Rumley , 1812-1881

Hathorn, John

Perhaps the best represented, and most well documented secessionist under the occupation of eastern North Carolina, James Rumley, a Carteret country court clerk. Rumley was a diarist that kept intensive notes about life under Union control from the viewpoint of a southern loyalist. Rumley’s diary begins with the bombardment of New Bern, which can be heard in the distance, but he knows an impending doom is creeping upon Beaufort. The diary gives unequivocal insight into the mind of an ardent secessionist trapped behind enemy lines. He touches on major issues and how they effect himself, and as he perceived the public’s reaction. Rumley touches on various tenets of the occupation, the economy, the social change, and the policies, which caused a great deal of animosity among Confederate supporters.

Judkin Browning. The Southern Mind under Union Rule: The Diary of James Rumley, Beaufort, North Carolina, 1862-1865. Gainesville, FL: University of Florida, 2009.